The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-08-26
LIano Iron Interests.

developments over here; and in
order to get at facts for your read
ers. l concluded to come and see
for myself.
;7a N a friend, behind a spank
wslsam of bays, we left Burnet
sure they have lots of granite
but not much water, and in SIX
hours reached this delightful and
now much excited little town of
1000 inhabitants.
Llano is beautifully situated on
on the south banks of the Llano
river, a clear, rapid flowing stream
of pure, sparkling water, which
viii quench the thirst of the city
even when it grows to be as large
as Birmingham orPittsburg. The
town is compact clean and well
kept. A three story stone hotel
a $4,000 courthouse, a $4,000
granite free school building just
completed, several churches, a
town hall, substantial and commo-
dos business houses, some of
brick, some of stone and some of
wood,
The people areiwide awake! yes,
Just now they are awful wide
awakel Ask them the price Of
their property within two miles Of
the courthouse and their answers
would make you think they are
crazy. l have talked to the big
men Of the town, and to the ordin-
ary, common citizen, and even tC
the boys, ten to fifteen years old
and l am positive there is not
person of the male gender in the
whole 'fburg" who is not dreaming
of "trip to Europe" or a sal
across the ocean ION his own pr.
vate yatch.' or a whole railroad OF
his own with his private car hitch.
ed on behind, or something else
very rich and gaudy," when the
Llano boom gets right down t.
business.
The business men, the lawyers,
merchants and bankers use iron
rock for paper weights. The
hotel proprietor led me back tt
his private sanctum" and showed
ne a beautiful lot of ''iron rock
specimens. The leading mer-
chant Of the town led me through
his store to the back yard, anC
there lay beautiful pile of iroI
rock Every public Office in thu
courthouse has its little pile o
iron rock in one corner. Every
where you go you are sure to SCI
some iron rock. The whole popu
lation seems to have iron rock Oh
the brain, and they all call it BY
the same name-iron rock. l in
terviewed the following parties
The confidential clerk and attor,
ney of this big northern syndicate
who are buying up the whole
country; a big fat, jolly man, whC
is a lawyer; a lean, nervous little
man, who is a trader; white hair
ed old gentleman, who is a banker
and lame man with fine voice
who is a livery stable keeper
And, out Of the whole lot, the mos
unconcerned and the least excited
of all was the northern syndicate
man. He talked real ordinary, &C
ted Just like common folks, seemed
as calm and contented as a coun
Try jake whiting on a dry-goodi
box at a cross roads store. He die
not seem to know much, could no
or would not, tell me all about it.
This northern syndicate has rent
ed a large Office up stairs, and lot
of iron rock lay piled around thu
room.
The fat, lazy looking lawye
said, 1t was alright" Said tn
boom" was coming sure. Sait
be knew it had to come sometime
and that it was this very thing tina
induced him 10 settle in Liam
several years ago.
/ The lean, nervous little man SAT-
his fortune was made. Said h
owned 100 acres of land adjoining
the town, which would give hin
all the wealth he wanted He toll
me Of q man In Atlanta, Ga, VIII
invested $4,000 in Birmingham
Ala, ten years ago, and the prop
erty was worth to-day s2,9O0,00(
Said be saw an account of it in tn
papers
The white haired old gentlema
told me the iron men," as he cal
ed them, had paid out thousand
Of dollars for iron lands in tn
county through his bank. Said tn
amonnt was nearly 100000.
The lame man, with the fin
! voice, told me that the iron men
I patronized his stable. Said b
: had driven them around the coul
lty 3 great many times Said b
III - 4han, tall hetWee